The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-24


pried them open with knife blade
and introduced little of the liquid j
dubbed back. While we were thu.
engaged Cornish threw up his arml
and stiffened out his body. So strong
was his dying action that he knocked
the glass of brandy out of my hand and
threw me backward some PAGES. Tht
pupils of his eyes rolled down and {
film came over them; he uttered some
thing in hoarse whisper, and lay dead
on the boatswain's knee.
| glanced AZ Miss Robertson. Hel
lips were tightly compressed, other
wise the heroic girl showed no emo
ton.
The boatswain drew a deep breath,
and let the dead man head fall gently
on the flag.
For Miss Robertson's sake"
whispered, ''let us carry him for
ward"
He acquiesced in silence, and we bore
the body off the poop and laid it on the
fore-hatch.
There will be no need to bury him. -
said |.
"No need and no time, sir. ! trust
God'll be merciful to the poor sailor
when he's called up. He was made
bad by them others, sir. His heart
wasn't wrong" replied the boatswa
/ procured a blanket from the fore.
castle and covered the body with it. and
we then walked back to the poop slow
ly and without speaking.
felt the death of this man keenly.
He had worked faithfully. and in my
mind had fully atoned for wrong he
had taken partin.
l stopped a moment with the boat
swain to look at the steward before
joining Miss Robertson. To many, !
believe, the spectacle of idiocy would
have been more affecting than Cor
nish's death. He was tracing figures,
such as circles and crosses, with his
fOrefinger on the deck. smiling vacant
ly meanwhile. and now and then look
ing around him with rolling, unmean-
ing eyes
/ returned to the wheel, and said:
''Miss Robertson, you need not remain
at the wheel. There is so little wind
now that the ship may be left to her
self"
Saying which made the wheel fast
and led her to one OF the skylights.
bosom" said |, Twill you fetch us
something to eat and drink out of the
pantry? Open a tin of meat, and get
some biscuit and wine. This may be
our last meal on board the Grosvenor,
| added, TO Miss Robertson, as the boat
swain left us.
She looked at me inquiringIy, but
did not speak.
before we knew" l continued.
"that poor Cornish was dying. the
boatSwain and | resolved that we
should all of us leave the ship. We
have no longer the strength to man the
pumps. The water is coming in at the
rate of a foot an hour. and we have
found latterly that even three of us can
not pump more at time out of her
than six or seven inches, and every
spell at the pumps leaves us more eX-
hausted. But even though we had hes
itated to leave her, yet. now that Corn
ish is gone and the steward has fallen
imbecile, we have no alternative"
81 understand, she said. CHANGING
at the boat and COMPRISING her lips.
"You are not afraid-you who have
shown more heart and courage than
all of us put together.
"NO-I am not much afraid. be-
lieve that God is looking down upon US
and that He will preserve us. But, :"
she cried, taking short breath, and
claSping her hands cOnvulsively, lit
will be very, very lonely on the great
sea in that little boat.
why more lonely in that little boat
than on this broken and sinking ship?
L believe, with you, that God is look
ing down upon us, and He has given
us that pure and beautiful sky as an
encouragement and promise. Con-
trast the sea now with what it was this
morning. In q few hours hence it will
be calm; and believe me when l say
that we shall be a thouSand-fold safer
in that boat than we are in this strained
and leaking ship. Even while we talk
now, the water is creeping into the
hold, and every hour will make her
sink deeper and deeper until she dis
appears beneath the surface. On the
other hand. we may have many DAYS
together of this fine weather. l will
steer the boat for the Bermuda Islands,
which we can not miss by heading the
boat west, even if | should lack the
means Of aScertaining our exact where
aboutS, which you may trust me will
not be the case. Moreover, the chance
of our being rescued by passing ship
will be much greater when we are in
the boat than it is while we remain
here; for no ship, though she were
commanded by a savage. would refuse
10 pick boat up and take its occu-
pants on board; whereas vessels. as we
have already seen to our cost, will sight
distressed ships and leave them to shift
for themselves.
Il do not doubt you are right" she
replied, with plaintive smile. 81
should not say or do any thing to OPP
pose you. And believe me-" she ex-
claimed, earnestly, that l do not
think more of my own life than that
of nv companions. Death is not so
terrible but that we may meet it, if
God Wills" calmly. And | would
rather die at once. Mr. Royle, than
win few short years of life on hard
and bitter terms"
She looked at the steward as she
spoke, and an expression of beautiful
pity came into her face.
Miss Robertson" l said. Sin my
heart l am pledged to save vour life
If you die, we both die!-of that be
sure
Il know what l owe you," she
in low and broken voice.
Il know that my life is yours, won hy
Won from the Unrv inuS Of Hnnth